MS Originals

ICA Seizes 12,479 Cartons Of Cigarettes Hidden In Concrete; Lorry Driver’s Fate Likely ‘Cemented’

ICA Drills Into Concrete Blocks & Finds Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers are our last line of defence when it comes to preventing illegal goods and persons from entering our borders.

Last month, vigilant ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint seized over 12,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in concrete blocks on a lorry arriving from Malaysia.

The seizure was the largest of its kind in 5 years.

ICA seizes 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes

On the morning of 27 Jul, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint conducted checks on an “over-sized” truck carrying 16 concrete blocks.

Source

Officers reportedly spotted “anomalies” in the blocks and proceeded to drill holes into the block.

Source

Instead of finding more concrete, officers discovered cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes encased within the unsuspecting grey blocks of concrete.

Source

In total, 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from the lorry — the largest haul of its kind in the last 5 years.

 

Source

According to the ICA press release, duties and taxes evaded amounted to $1,240,430 and $90,590 respectively.

The lorry driver – a 25-year-old Malaysian man – was arrested on the spot. The case is currently in the hands of the Singapore Customs.

Netizen says lorry driver’s future cast in stone

Reports of the seizure garnered a slew of comments from netizens.

Many praised the ICA officers for their vigilance.

Source

Others thought that hiding contraband cigarettes in concrete blocks was an ingenious method.

Source

One netizen took a punnier approach to the incident and claimed that the driver’s future has likely been “cast in stone.”

Source 

Well done, ICA

While it may just be cigarettes this time round, smugglers can also use the same method to conceal firearms and even “undesirables persons”.

Kudos to the ICA officers for their vigilance, without which this arrest wouldn’t have been possible.

Featured image adapted from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

The Must Share News Team

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Recent Posts

Loyal pet dog in China tracks owner’s scent for 16km to reunite with her in hospital

The dog stayed with its owner until she was discharged.

22 Nov 2024, 6:04 pm

Newborn piglet falls off truck in Thailand, still had umbilical cord attached

Following the incident, netizens felt compelled to reconsider pork consumption.

22 Nov 2024, 5:25 pm

Dog guards 81-year-old owner’s body after she falls into pond & dies in Thailand

The dog, Taohu, was inseparable from its owner, who raised it from puppyhood.

22 Nov 2024, 5:09 pm

Landmark BBC ‘Asia’ series features Sunda pangolins in S’pore, producer inspired by conservation efforts here

Sunda pangolins live alongside humans in Singapore, and sometimes they need saving.

22 Nov 2024, 4:16 pm